Poetry by ODella Wilson AKA Alhavakia» Definitions Related to Poetry

Iambic Pentameter

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:31:22 +0000

Iambic Pentameter is the most common meter of English poetry. Pronounced “eye- am -bik pen- tam -uh-tuhr” this style poem uses ten (10) syllables per line, usually unrhymed with five feet or accents.

Iambic means “of a foot or verse” and Pentameter means “measure of five” Each foot containing one unaccented syllable and one accented syllable.

Most of Shakespeare’s plays where written in Iambic pentameter.

Senryu

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:02:58 +0000

A short Japanese style poem similar to haiku in structure. The senryu is about human beings rather than nature. Often in a humorous or satiric way. Here’s a couple of example Senryu poems I wrote:

RAZORS

Dull razors pull hair

Sharp razors are dangerous

Both can cause great pain

DRUG OF CHOICE

My drug of choice: Kids

Spend one day with five year old

Trip a whole new way

Acrostic Poems Have Meaning

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:40:44 +0000

Acrostic poems can have meaning on more than one level. They can define thoughts about a given word or name or they can be written as a hope or inspiration. While each successive line of the poem starts with the next successive letter of the word(s), the meaning of each Acrostic poem will differ from one writer to another.

The Acrostic poem below is a written reminder for myself and affirmation of my beliefs. You might want to give this type poem a try yourself with your own name:

ODELLA AKA ALHAVAKIA

Only I can decide my fate

Depending on choices I make

Each one dependent on the next

Like a chain reaction affect

Looking forward to each new day

Always striving for better ways

And never forget lessons learned

Kindness is free, so take a turn

Approach life as a journey

A journey to life eternal

Left behind, a detailed journal

Helping others avoid mistakes

Authored by one who did partake

View the world with hope and love

Alluding to God up above

Knowing heaven waits at the end

Incentive enough to obey

In God’s name, I pray.

Amen

Only I can decide my fate

Depending on choices I make

Each one dependent on the next

Like a chain reaction affect

Looking forward to each new day

Always striving for better ways

And never forget lessons learned

Kindness is free, so take a turn

Approach life as a journey

A journey to life eternal

Left behind, a detailed journal

Helping others avoid mistakes

Authored by one who did partake

View the world with hope and love

Alluding to God up above

Knowing heaven waits at the end

Incentive enough to obey

Amen, In God’s name, I pray.

Written/Copyrights Retained by: O’Della Wilson AKA Alhavakia, TheGoSeeGirl

Chastuka

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:03:30 +0000

The chastuka is a type of traditional Russian poetry.

Written as a single quatrain in trochaic tetrameter with an abab or abcb rhyme scheme. They are amusing, satirical, or ironic and cover topics ranging from bawdy jokes to propaganda.

They parallel the limerick, and are usually accompanied by music. The musical refrain between chastukas gives the audience time to laugh without missing the next one. Poets are resourceful and clever when performing them in front of an audience where the contestants mocked each other in competitions similar to today’s hip-hop or rap battles.

Envoi

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:14:15 +0000

The envoi is the name for the short stanza at the close of a poem. The envoi is not a poem, but rather a piece or ending section of a poem.

It addresses an imagined or actual person, or it may also be used to comment on the earlier content of the poem. It also repeats rhyme words or sounds used in the main body of the poem.

Canzona

admin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:21:48 +0000

The canzona is a short lyric poem of French origin. It gained popularity in Italy during the Middle Ages.

The subject of this type poetry is often about love, nature, or feminine beauty.

The canzona consists of stanzas of equal length, and closes with a shorter stanza which is called an envoi.

The stanzas vary from seven to twenty lines.

Blank Verse

admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:51:22 +0000

The blank verse style of poetry is written in iambic pentameter. Its main characteristic is its end-stopped lines.

Poems written in blank verse can be as long as the poet desires, provided that each line is written in iambic pentameter.

Ballade

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:05:26 +0000

The ballade is a twenty-line French style poem. It relies on the foundation of three stanzas, an envoi, and usually an apostrophe.

It must use the rhyme scheme of ababbcc dedeeff ghghii.

Tanka

admin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:29:16 +0000

Tanka is a Japanese type poetry. These poems contain a total of 31 syllables within five lines.

The first and third lines are composed of five syllables each and the rest are composed of seven syllables each.

Tanka is the oldest type of poetry in Japan.

Alliteration

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:56:31 +0000

Alliteration is the repetition of the same sounds at the beginning of words or stressed syllables.

For example, the tongue twister “Suzie sells sea shells by the seashore” uses alliteration.

In modern usage, alliteration is most commonly consonantal.